Tom Callinan

HOLIDAY HODGE PODGE (Songs, Stories, & Tunes For Various Occasions)

Drawing on his extensive repertoire of: folksongs, original compositions, stories, sea songs, chanteys, and popular songs and tunes from a variety of times and places, Tom Callinan has constructed an assortment of participatory programs of diverse songs and stories appropriate for an array of holidays or other auspicious occasions. Tom can adapt his programs to audiences of all ages. As a folksinger, songwriter, storyteller, multi-instrumentalist, and Arts-In-Education specialist, he has been presenting family programs for over 25 years.

As with all of his presentations, choruses and/or appropriate hand gestures will be taught, songs will be accompanied by a variety of musical instruments from the wind, string, and percussion families, and Tom's engaging narrative style will introduce each song or story with a brief explanation of its origin, purpose, etc.

Special Holiday & Thematic Programs:

January: Folk Songs, Past & Present (For North American Folk Music Month) February: Valentine's Day/"Is It Love Or Just Tachycardia?" February: Presidents Day/ Patriotic Songs & Tunes March: A Little Bit O' Erin - Irish & Irish-American Songs & Tunes (St. Paddy's Day) April: Environmental Hootenanny (Earth Day) April: Plant A Tree! (Arbor Day) May: Mothers Day Songs & Tunes May: Memorial Day/Patriotic Songs & Tunes June: Fathers Day Songs & Tunes June: Grand Old Flag/Patriotic Songs & Tunes (Flag Day) July: Our Lady Liberty/Americana & Patriotic Songs (Independence Day) Summer: Sea Songs, Chanteys, & Nautical Lore September: Work Songs (Labor Day) October: German Songs For Oktoberfests October: The Spooky Scenes Of Halloween November: Veterans Day & Patriotic Songs November: Don't Let The Turkeys Get You Down! (Thanksgiving/Harvest Songs) December: "Miss Houligan's Christmas Cake" And Other Tasty Treats Of The Season December: Peace On Earth And Good Will To All Creatures (Non-Religious Winter) December: New Year's Eve Party Songs

THE SPOOKY SCENES OF HALLOWEEN

Tom Callinan has constructed a participatory program for Halloween, geared to the age of the audience (i.e. for young children, care is taken to concentrate on the fun, rather than the horror of Halloween). Tom can adapt his program to audiences of all ages. As with all of his presentations, choruses and/or appropriate hand gestures will be taught, songs will be accompanied by a variety of musical instruments from the wind, string, and percussion families, and Tom engaging narrative style will introduce each song or story with a brief explanation of its origin, purpose, etc.

Some Of The Songs In The Program May Include:

I'm Not Scared • Three Black Crows • Anne Bolin (Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm) • Weelia Wallia • The Skeleton In The Closet • Skin And Bones • The Zombie Jamboree • The Monster Mash • The Purple People-Eater • The Thing • The Twelve Nights Of Halloween • The Cat Came Back • Cold Icy Fingers • Isn't It Grand, Boys, To Be Bloody-Well Dead! • You're Always Welcome At Our House • The Irish Ballad (Rickety-Tickety-Tin) Stories: The Dancing Skeleton/Aaron Kelly • The Corpse Watchers • Gold In The Chimney • Jack And His Comrades • Albert And The Lion • The Monkey's Paw • Tailey Bone • Prinderella And The Cince • The King Of The Fairies